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<section article="gag" article_name="Agriculture" number="8-801.1" title_number="8" title_name="Soil Conservation" subtitle_number="8" subtitle_name="Nutrient Management">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Each nutrient management plan shall be developed considering factors including:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Levels of bioavailable nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Levels of bioavailable nitrogen and phosphorus in all fertilizer materials to be applied;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>The amount of nitrogen and phosphorus necessary to achieve the expected crop yield for the land that is the subject of the nutrient management plan, as determined by:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>The field’s actual yield record and soil productivity for that crop; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>If information concerning actual yield record and soil productivity for a crop is unavailable, relevant information concerning similar fields and soil;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>Soil erodibility and nutrient retention capacity;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <level label="1">
          <text>The best reasonable scientific methods accepted by the Department and the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Service; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Scientifically validated data for the development of a nutrient management plan as defined by the Department in regulation; and</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <text>Existing best management practices.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Each nutrient management plan shall provide flexibility for management decisions that may be required by conditions beyond the control of the farmer.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, a summary of each nutrient management plan shall be filed and updated with the Department at a time and in a form that the Department requires by regulation.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>The Department may require an updated summary under this subsection to take the form of an annual implementation report.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>If a person, in operating a farm, uses or produces animal manure, the person’s annual implementation report shall include:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>The amount of animal manure imported to or exported from the person’s farm;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>For any animal manure that was imported, the name and location of the sending farm; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>For any animal manure that was exported, the name and location of the farm, alternative use facility, or manure broker that received the manure.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>If a person receives animal manure through a manure broker, the broker shall provide the person with the name and location of the sending farm.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The Department shall maintain a copy of each summary for 3 years in a manner that protects the identity of the individual for whom the nutrient management plan was prepared.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>If a person fails to file a summary or annual implementation report as required by the Department under subsection (b) of this section, the Department shall notify the person that:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The person is in violation of the requirement to file a summary or annual implementation report; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The person is subject to:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>After 30 days from issuance of the notice, an administrative penalty of not less than $100 and not more than $250;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>After 60 days from issuance of the notice, an administrative penalty of not less than $250 and not more than $1,000; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>After 90 days from issuance of the notice, an administrative penalty of not less than $1,000.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A penalty imposed on a person under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be assessed with consideration given to:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The willfulness of the violation; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The extent to which the current violation is part of a recurrent pattern of the same or similar type of violation committed by the violator.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
